UC Campuses To Fight Hunger With ‘Global Food Initiative’

WESTWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 11: University of California President Janet Napolitano has lunch at the Bruin Plate with students at UCLA October 11, 2013 in Westwood, California. Napolitano toured UCLA for the first time since she assumed office, meeting privately with administrators, faculty and students. (Photo by Francine Orr-Pool/Getty Images)

(Photo credit: Francine Orr-Pool/Getty Images)

WESTWOOD (CBSLA.com) — University of California students in Los Angeles and statewide will be taking part in a new initiative that officials hope will eradicate hunger and improve nutrition at home and abroad.

UC President Janet Napolitano was set Tuesday to officially announce the UC Global Food Initiative at the student-run community garden at the Sunset Canyon Recreation Center on the UCLA campus in Westwood.

The initiative stems from a commitment by Napolitano and the 10 UC campus chancellors to work collectively to intensify and expand the efforts of UC Berkeley to support healthy eating, sustainable agriculture and food security.

By the year 2025, the world’s population is expected to grow by another billion people, even as one billion people go to bed hungry every night, while another half billion suffer from obesity, according to Napolitano.

UC President Janet Napolitano

“What is the effect on global food supply of climate change? How do we develop drought-tolerant crops? How do we at the University adjust our own purchasing and eating habits for our students, with our students?” Napolitano asked.

One of Napolitano’s first actions will be the funding of three $2,500 President’s Global Food Initiative Student Fellowships to be awarded on each campus to undergraduate or graduate students. The fellowships will fund student research projects or internships.